ALLENTOWN, Pa. — It's time to celebrate the Isla Del Encanto.
Allentown's Puerto Rican parade and fiesta will return on Sunday, July 28.
The annual cultural celebration is held by the Puertorrican Culture Preservation, or PRCP, an organization that works to unite the community by fostering Puerto Rican heritage through entertaining events.
The festivities will begin at 11 a.m. with a flag-raising at Allentown City Hall, 435 Hamilton St.
The parade then will kick off at noon at North Fifth and Hamilton streets and will travel east on Hamilton toward River Front Drive to Front and Tilghman streets.
It then will make a right at Tilghman Street Bridge and end after the bridge.
This year's parade grand marshal is Allentown Fire Chief Efrain Agosto Jr.
Entry to the flag-raising and parade are free.
Parade-goers will be able to view bright-colored floats, designed by local artists and business owners, that symbolize the island's many pueblos.
Prizes will be awarded for the best decorated float.
Music, Nino Segarra
This year's festival will once again have live music and food vendors starting at 1 p.m. at the Executive Education Academy Charter School, 555 Union Blvd.
Bring your flags and merengue moves: orquestras at the festival will include Los Sabrosos del Merengue and Herencia de Plena.
This year's headliner is Nino Segarra, an iconic singer and composer from the western part of the island, who penned the salsa hits "Porque Te Amo," "Entre La Espada y La Pared" and Eres La Unica."
There will be children's activities, such as a bouncy house and arts and crafts, plus food and drink vendors selling Puerto Rican bocadillos.
Tickets cost $5 for adults, $1 for 12 or younger. Parking costs $7.
